Home desk



March 2o, 192s. 1,663,377

' L. KNASTER HOME DESK lOriginal Filed May 21. 1924 2 sheets-sneeel l /7 f/ [z5 f/ Ta-.5; I T

March 20, 1928.

L. KNAsTizR- HOME DESK Original File V. vIIIIvIAJIPW/III( 1n f Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

PATENT LEON KNASTER, OF UNION CITY, NEW' JERSEY.

HOME DESK.

Application led May 21, 1924, Serial No. 714,909. Renewed pril 2&1., 1926.

rihis invention relates to a home desk, and particularly to a construction adapted for residential use and embodying a secret compartment normally concealed in the use of the desk but adapted to vbe rendered easily accessible by a proper manipulation of the desk members.

ln prior constructions of this character a secret compartment has been disposed in positions more or less inaccessible to the users of the desk and often required movement of the desk, or of the person using the saine, to withdraw the compartment. The present invention, therefore, seeks to dispose a secret'compartment in a position directly accessible to theperson seated at the desk by a simple manipulation ofa movable meinber thereof which normally conceals such compartment so that its presence is not evident to an unacquainted user. The advantages of such a construction will be evident when it is considered that the ordinary desk is liable to be used by many diiferentpersons and it is frequently desirable to conceal 5 andv protect important papers so that they will not be accessible to an unauthorized person but when they are desired for inspection or use a properly acquaint-ed person can secure immediate access thereto.

The invention hasfor an object to provide a desk construction having a secret com-` partment disposed to open toward the front thereof and normally concealed by a mova ble table section of the desk mounted for withdrawal to permit access to the cernpartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a secret compartment comprising a withdrawable drawer which under normal conditions is completely concealed by a table or writing section adapted to be slid Aaway from said drawer to expose the same and permit sufficient space for its -withdrawal when desired; i

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the secret compartment is concealed by a sliding table sec tion and the latter held in its closed position by a latch device disposed in a secreted location so as to be only accessible to a person acquainted with the desk construction and operation, and operable to cooperate with either a .drawer or said section.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof donned by the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1' is a perspective showing the table section withdrawn to reveal the secret` compartment;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the desk in closed position with the open position of the table section for access to the secret com partinent indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a similarview of the desk in openr position with the secret drawer partially withdrawn.;

Figure 4: is a detail of a latching means for the sliding table section and dra/Wer;

'Figure 5 is an elevation of the cover operating lever;

Figure 6 is a detail section of afmoditied form of latchingmeans; and y Figure 7 is a similar view of means for vretaining the table section -by 'frictional en gagement;

Like numerals refer to like parts througlr out the several iigures of the drawing.

The general construction of the desk is similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 994,009 datedM-ay 30, 1911 and my pending application Serial Number 635,370 file-d April 28, 1923, and the pre-sent invention relates more particularly to the dispostion of the secret compartment and the construction of the table section.

The numeral 10 designates the body of the desk which may be of any desired construction or configuration and preferably comprises abottom 11 and a base or platform 12 spaced therefrom Aand adapted to support the cabinet section 13. The space between the bottom and platform is arranged to receive a drawer 14 which may be of any kdesired construction while the cabinet portion is provided with a top 15 mounted for sliding movement as particularly disclosed in my application before mentioned.

The cabinet portion is provided at the front with series of public compartments 16 which may be of any'preferred character and rest upon a partition 17. Intermediate of the platform 12 and thisV partition the secret compartment or drawer 18 is disposed and is preferably surrounded by a body 19 of suitable lireproong material so as to protect the more valuable contents of the drawer and the latter may be provided with any desired character of locking mechanism as indicated at 20. At the front of this drawer a sliding table section 21 is mounted and the rear wall 22 thereof abut-s the front face of the partition 17 and completely conceals the secret compartment of the drawer when in closed position. This table section is mounted for sliding movement in any desired manner, for instance by means of the tongue and groove connection as indicated at 23 in Figure 1 and is also formed with a folding leaf 24 pivotally connected thereto at 25, as more fully described in the application mentioned.

The outward travel of the table section may be limited by means of a. stop 26 secured to the member 12 and when the section is in its normal position for use of the desk the same may be closed by a cover 27 slidably mounted and connected for actuation by a pivoted angle lever 28 extending to the drawer 14. This drawer is capable of two extents of outward movement, the normal travel thereof being indicated by full lines in Figure 3, and when in such position the folding leaf of the table section may be supported thereby when opened. A further outward movement of the drawer as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3 withdraws the cover member 27 to sutlicient extent to permit access to a latch 28 by which the top 15 is normally held so as to permitthe with-- drawal of the same toward the front for access to the concealed filing compartment 29 at the rear of the desk. The normal movement of the drawer may be controlled by a latch lever 30 which prevents the release of the top 15 in ordinary operation and requires that the hand of the user be inserted within the drawer to release the lever to permit further withdrawal of the drawer to afford access to the cover latch controlling the filing compartment.

The lever 28 is pivoted to the desk body at 4() an'd its lower end 41 slotted to receive a pin 42 carried by the plate 43 secured to the rear portion ofthe drawer 14. The arms of this lever are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other and the upper arm formed with an attaching plate 44 adapted to be secured to the cover 27 as in Figure 2. Such construction provides a single member for imparting a positive movement to the cover in the action of withdrawing t-he drawer to different extents and avoids the frictional resistance of a link type of connection while providing for a greater degree of travel of the connected members by the interposed rigid lever which directly transmits the reeiprocatory movement of the drawer for the arcuate movement of the cover.

The outward travel of the drawer to its normal position is limited by a stop 45 pivoted at 46 in an aperture 47 in the platform member 12 and disposed when in lowered position to engage a rear wall 48 of the drawer. This stop is normally projected downward by a spring 49 and is formed with an enlarged head 50 of greater vertical d iameter than the platform 12. lWhen it is desired to withdraw the drawer to an abnormal extent for access to the latch upon the under face of the top, this stop is raised out of the path of the partition by the lever pivoted at 31 and adapted to swing beneath the stop and lift the saine so that the head 50 is raised into the path of the rear wall 22 of the table to lock and prevent movement thereof for access to the concealed compartment 18. This construction of latch performs the multiple function of controlling the access to the secret compartment beneath the top and also that at the rear of the table section. When the latch is in lowered position it engages the rear wall of the drawer limiting its outward movement and preventing access to the latch device beneath the top by which the latter is released. A shifting of this latch throws it into engagement with the rear wall of the table section and permits an abnormal movement of the drawer for access to the latch upon the top. In this latter position the table is retained against movement while the drawer is free. The construction presents means by which both of the secret compartments can not be rendered accessible at the same time but ifisuch joint accessibility is desired the modified form of latch shown in Figure 6 may be used to independently lock the table section to conceal the compartment at the rear thereof.

This modified form of latch as shown in Figure 6 comprises a pivoted latch 31 which is normally pressed into contact with the seat 82 upon the table section by means of a spring 33 and may be released therefrom by pressure upon the handle 34 of the latch which is disposed upon the under face of the platform 12 and thus secreted within the drawer so as to require the insertion of the hand of the user to release the latch.

Under certain conditions, for instance in connection with the form of latch shown in Figure 4, it is desirable to retain the sliding table section by frictional means aud a structure for such purpose is shown in Figure 7'wherein a spring pressed ball 35 is located in a seat or recess 3G in the member 12 and adapted to seat in a cooperating recess 37 in the under face of the front 'wall 22 of the table section.

When the desk is closed the sliding table is securely locked against tampering or movement by the engagement of the Cover 27 withthe leaf 24 as in Figure 2. The table is disposed between the sides of the cabinet portion 13 and the front edge 38 of the cover engages the leaf at an angle to retain the same, so that when the drawer 14 is secured by the lock 89 it is practically all `impossible to withdraw the table which, due

the secret compartment entirely concealed or protected by the rear wall of the table section. If access be desired to this compartment the table sectionv is drawn forwardly toward the user into the position shown in Figure 3 where the secret compartment or drawer may be withdrawn for access to the contents thereof. If access be desired to the tiling compartment, a release ofthe main drawer is effected and its further withdrawal permits access to the latch for the sliding top which when drawn forward reveals the filing compartment at the back of the desk.

Such movement of the latch to release the drawer automatically locks the table section against withdrawal for access to the concealed compartment, while permitting access to the compartment beneath the top by movement of the latter. If this latch be shifted and held in its raised position the table section may be normally retained in locked position and the drawer left free for movement to any desired extent so that the compartment beneath the top may be readily released and used for filing purposes while the concealed compartment at the rear of the sliding table section can only be released by manipulation of the concealed latch upon the under side of the desk platform.

rlhe connecting lever between the drawer and cover is adapted to provide for the different eXtents of travel of the drawer and when its upper arm is in substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 2 the cover is closed and when shifted to the inclined position in said ligure the drawer is opened to its normal degree for supporting the table leaf. A further abnormal movement of the drawer when released brings the upper arm of the lever into a substantially horizontal position as indicated in Figure 8, thus providing for the additional movement of the cover necessary to permit access to the latch for the top member.

It will be seen that the construction pre#` paratively safe even in the event of fire. A desk of this character may be commonly used in the home by all members of the family and any papers of special importance may be `tiled ordisposed in the secret compartments, both of which are effectually concealed and not accessible to the ordinary user unless lie be acquainted with the steps necessary torelease and reveal suchcompartments for protective storage.

While the construction of the secret compartment and table section have been specilically shown and described, still the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as deiined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A desk comprising a. body portion provided with a platform, a partition spaced therefrom. a withdrawable secret container disposed between said platform and partition, a concealed filing chamber disposed above said partition, a sliding top normally retained to close said filing chamber, a drawer mountedin the body of the desk, a sliding table section mounted upon the desk to engage said partition and conceal the secret compartment, and a desk cover mount ed upon the body portion and adapted to engage said table section and connected for operation by said drawer.

2. In a desk, a body portion having a cabinet section, a secret container disposed in said section, a movable table section arranged at the front to conceal said container and provided with a folding member, a drawer, and a cover for said cabinet mounted upon the body portion and connected for operation by said drawer and adapted to engage the folding member of the table section to prevent its movement.

3. In a desk, a body portion provided with a concealed chamber at the upper portion thereof. a movable top member for normally closing said chamber, a secret container, a slidable table section mounted in front thereof to conceal said secret container when in normal position, a cover member for the desk movably mounted upon the body thereof, a drawer connected to operate said cover to different extents of travel,l and latching means adapted selectively to limit the extent of travel of said drawer or to control the movement of said table section for access to the container.

a. In a desk, a body portion provided with a concealed chamber at its rear-and a secret container beneath the same removable from the front of the desk, a top for controlling access to said chamber, asliding table section for concealing said secret container, means for locking said top or releasing the ian in a member intermediate the drawer and table section, and an operating lever adapted to engage the under face of said latch to lift theA same out of engagement with the drawer and into the path of the table section.

7 In a desk, a body portion provided with a sliding drawer, a sliding table section mounted above said drawer, a pivoted latch lever disposed in a member intermediate the drawer and table section, a spring disposed to normally tension said latch lever downward yinto the path ot' travel of the drawer, and an enlarged head upon said lever adapted to travel into the path of the table sec* tion when the lever is raised against the tension o't said spring.

8. ln a desk, a body portion provided with al platfornny a drawer slidingly mounted beneath the same, a table section mounted upon the upper tace of said platform, a latch member adapted to be projected through said platform to engage either the drawer or the table section, and means for rictionally retaining said table section against movement.

In testimony whereof I ams my signature.

LEON KNASTER. 

